Device for playing the game of curling



(No Model.)

J. B. HAMILTON. DEVIGE'FOR PLAYING THE GAME OF GURLING.

' No. 517,103. Pa, tented'Ma,r. -27,1-894.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH B. HAMILTON, OF SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS.

DEVICE FOR PLAYING THE GAME OF CURLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 517,103, datedMarch 2'7, 1894.

Application filed July 13,1893.

T0 aZZ whom it may concern.-

3e it known that I, JosEPH B. HAMILTON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Springfield, in the county of Hampden and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Device for Playing the Game of Curling, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part thereof.

The object of my invention is to provide means for playing the game of curling otherwlse than upon ice, to which it has hereto fore been confined. Said game consists, as is well understood, of sliding curling stones of considerable weight over a course laid out upon the ice, the object of the player being to land his stone as near as possible to a T located at the end of the course, and to keep the stone of his adversary as far as possible from said T. The game is one requiring much skill, and is very popular in localities where an ice course can be obtained, but because of this requirement it has been necessarily limited to the winter season and to the colder localities. It has been my aim to provide means whereby said game can be played in all seasons and in any locality, said means consisting of a curling iron to take the place of the curling stone, so constructed thatit can be rolled over an alley for the same distance and with the same precision that the stones have heretofore been slid over the ice.

To this end, my invention consists in the device for such purpose constructed and operating as hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims.

Referring to the drawings, in which like letters designate like parts in both figures,

'Figure 1 is an inverted plan view of the curling iron. Fig. 2 is a cross-section thereof.

The letter a designates the body of the iron, which is preferably made of cast-iron and of a circular form as shown. In the under side of said body is located a centrally disposed recess b, in which is located the nut by which the handle 0 is secured to said body, said handle being of convenient shape to enable the iron to be manipulated in the manner presently described and having a shank which passes downwardly through said body to said recess 1) as shown. Also within said under side of the body are located a series of circu- Serial No. 480,328. (No model.)

lar recesses, disposed at equal distances from each other and from the central recess b, to receive a series of cup-shaped boxes d, preferably made of steel, which closely fit within said recesses and are held therein by screws 6 or in any suitable manner. Within said boxes 01, at their upper end, is located a row of small steel balls f, and near their lower end is located a second row of similar balls f which are preferably located Within an annular recess in the box as shown and rest upon a cap-plate g, secured to the box at its lower end by screws g or otherwise. Between said two rows of small steel balls in each of the boxes (1 is located a larger steel ball h, which has its bearings against the smaller balls and projects slightly through a central opening in the cap-plate gin such manner that the weight of the iron is entirely supported upon the series of balls h, whichI will herein term the supporting balls. It will be obvious that said supporting balls are adapted to revolve with a minimum amount of friction and that the iron so supported thereon will roll freely upon a smooth surface.

I design to make the irons of different weights ranging say from fifty to seventy-five pounds each, to suit players of varying strength, and to construct for their use an alley, similar to a bowling-alley, from say one hundred and fifty to two hundred feet in length, the surface of which can, if desired, be treated with powdered plumbago or other similar material to increase its smoothness and keep the balls of the iron free from grit.

The game is played in a manner similar to the one heretofore played upon ice, that is to say, by grasping one of the irons by its handle and giving it the proper initial impulse to cause it to roll to the position which the player wishes it to the occupy at the opposite end of the alley, a skillful player being able to cause it to stop at almost any desired point. The outer surface of the irons will preferably be covered with leather.

I have herein shown the iron as having eight supporting balls but such number can be increased or diminished as may be desired it being essential merely that there shall be a sufficient number to properly support the iron and cause it to roll evenly over the alley. In Fig. 1 one of the cap-plates is removed to show the interior of its box and the balls therein.

lVhile the two rows of small balls form in connection with the supporting balls a perfect form of ball-bearing for the latter, I do not wish to limit myself to such particular form of bearing, it being important merely that the supporting balls shall revolve with as little friction as possible. Neither do I Wish to restrict myself to the circular form of the iron herein shown and described, as the same can be made of oblong or other shape with out materially affecting its operation.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A curling iron, consisting of a weighted metallic body having a plane lower face provided with a series of recesses, a supporting ball revolubly secured Within each of said recesses and projecting slightly beyond the plane of said lower face, and a series of smaller balls located within said recesses and bearing against said supporting balls, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. A curling iron, consisting of aniron body having in the lower plane face thereof a series of recesses, a series of steel boxes secured to said body within said recesses, a series of supporting balls located within said boxes and projecting slight-1y beyond said lower face of the body, and a plurality of rows of smaller balls located within said boxes and bearing against said supporting balls, substantially as described.

3. A curling iron, consisting of the iron body a having the boxes d secured thereto as described, the supporting balls h and rows of smaller balls f and f located within said boxes, and cap-plates g provided with a central opening, substantially as and for the purpose described.

JOSEPH B. HAMILTON.

Witnesses:

WM. H. CHAPMAN, J. E. CHAPMAN. 

